Page 15 of In The Shadow of The Wolf

“Did he ask you about it?”

“Not exactly. He told me he saw a large dog in the backyard, and then he thought he saw me. He asked if it was me in the backyard.” Lance smiled. “I told him it was me and left it there.”

“He just let you leave it without further explanation?”

Lance lifted an eyebrow and confessed. “I distracted him with a kiss.”

“A kiss?” Aaron declared and started to laugh loudly. He dropped his head into his hands and laughed until there were tears in his eyes. “That really worked?” He sounded incredulous.

“You doubt me?” Lance chuckled and leaned back into the sofa and crossed his arms on his chest. “My kisses are world-renowned for their ability to render one incapable of rational thought.”

“It’s a mate thing, isn’t it?” Aaron concluded, ignoring the world-renowned claim.

“Yes.” Lance conceded. “But it was still amazing, and I can’t wait to do it again. Speaking of amazing kisses, how is Molly this evening?”

“Your mate locked the door that adjoins our rooms, so I had to enter by the hallway. Just thought I’d share that with you.” Aaron looked a little peeved but not angry. “He worries about her a lot, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t trust me.”

“Yes, he was in her room when I went to see him tonight, and you’re right. He doesn’t trust you or me, for that matter. I believe he is attracted to me and feels the pull, but he isn’t ready to admit anything.”

“Molly and I talked, and I asked her to stay here with me for a while. I told her it would be safer for her and Ronan and that I wanted to have more time to explore our relationship. She agreed.” Aaron smiled so large that Lance thought his face would split. “She wanted to call her cousin Henry and let him know not to expect them, but I suggested that we, she and I, go see Henry in person.”

“Why? Wouldn’t it be easier to call?”

“I would like to get her away from Ronan for a couple of days, and this is the perfect excuse. Her loyalty is torn between Ronan and me and right now, as things are, I know she would choose him. I figure if I can get her alone for a while and ply her with my charms, I can speed up the bonding process.

Lance agreed, accepting the plan as logical. “Having Ronan to myself sounds like an excellent idea too. Divide and conquer, so to speak. He won’t let her leave easily, you know. You had better have a good reason as to why you and Molly need to do this and need to do this together. Ronan is nobody’s fool.” They both sat back and relaxed, dreaming of their mates, who were both asleep on the upper floor.

CHAPTER SIX

“You’re going to do what?” Ronan was shocked by Molly’s decision to suddenly drive off with Aaron to go visit Henry. It didn’t make any sense, and Ronan was seriously starting to doubt his sister’s reasoning ability. “Are you completely out to lunch? You hardly know this guy, and I am really questioning your ability to think rationally when a hard body gets near you.”

Molly took offense and pushed Ronan backward, and he fell onto his bed. Molly had come into Ronan’s room just after sunrise to give him the information that she and Aaron had discussed the previous day while at the hospital. Ronan was up but still wearing his pajamas, whereas Molly was completely dressed and acted as if she were heading out immediately.

“Hard body? Look who’s talking? I saw the way you looked at Lance and how you let him hold you. You are just as love-struck as I am.” She accused and placed her hands on her hips, still favoring her injured ankle but trying to look intimidating.

“I may be infatuated, but I for damn sure wouldn’t head off to Washington State alone with him because I don’t know him.” Ronan stood and moved closer to Molly, who seemed to be thinking about it with a clearer mind. “Why don’t you just call Henry and tell him we won’t be coming as soon as we thought. It doesn’t need to be a home visit.” Ronan continued to stress his argument. He felt like they were deliberately separating them, and he didn’t like it. Just as he started to believe that he was reaching Molly, both Aaron and Lance walked into his bedroom without knocking.

“Hey, this isn’t a railway station, it’s my bedroom, and you could knock. You know it’s called manners.” Ronan chastised the two men, who managed to look both sheepish and determined.

“I apologize for both of us.” Lance crooned, and his eyes sparkled as he stepped up to Ronan and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. Ronan blushed but maintained his indignant stance with his arms crossed over his chest and his chin in the air. “We were in the hall and overheard your heated discussion.” He explained with a smile. “It seems you’re not on board with Molly and Aaron going to Washington.”

“No, I am not.” Ronan watched as Aaron moved over to Molly, and once again, she fell into his arms, well, practically. “Molly, I don’t think you should go off by yourself.” He pleaded.

“She isn’t by herself; she’s with me,” Aaron spoke up.

“And just who in the hell are you anyway?” Ronan was becoming agitated. Lance put his arm around him and pulled him close as he leaned down to whisper in his ear.

“He means her no harm, Ronan. He wants to have her to himself for a day or so; there is nothing sinister or underhanded about his desire to travel to Washington rather than call.” He let his lips brush Ronan’s ear before straightening and giving his attention to Aaron and Molly.

“We want some time alone,” Molly assured him. “Lance has promised me that he will protect you while I’m gone. Please, Roe, I just want to spend some time with Aaron. I want to get to know him better.”

Ronan was taken aback by the honesty from both Lance and his sister. Although it hurt a little to have Molly leave him and run off with Aaron. They’d always had each other, and now he was feeling like a third wheel, unnecessary, out of place, in the way. Before he had a chance to wallow in self-pity, Lance grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the window seat.

“They will be leaving immediately, so you and I have the rest of the day to ourselves. What would you like to do?” Lance took Ronan’s chin and turned him so that he was looking at him and not staring at the other couple in the room.

“Are you trying to distract me?”

“Yes, is it working?” Lance chuckled and threaded his fingers through Ronan’s hair, smoothing it down and back away from his face.

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